28Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29“Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30For my eyes have seen your salvation, 31which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: 32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.”
The natural response when someone gives you a gift that is particularly meaningful and fills your heart with appreciation and gratitude is praise and thanksgiving to the giver. Many have been kind to us through the years at Christmas time with gifts and cards of appreciation. True worship came from the heartfelt thanksgiving to the Lord. He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
After holding the baby in his arms, Simeon's praise and adoration unto the Lord acknowledges Him for who He is. “You are the sovereign Lord. God, maker of heaven and earth is supreme and sovereign over the history and events that surround us in the world.”
God’s plan is continuing to unfold for the redemption of mankind. The wait was worth it. It may not seem so at the time, but now Simeon realizes it with a full heart to God. God may not act the way we want Him to and not by our timetable, but nobody ever said God had to consult us as to how He wished to control His world. He is LORD. We have no rights, He does. We may fight and pout, sin and disobey, but He will have His way, blessing or curse.
Now Simeon feels he can die, for God kept His promise to him allowing him to see the Messiah.
Maybe the death of someone close to you, a broken relationship, or some other tragedy has caused you to pray, "Lord, let me die, take me home. Life is more than I can handle." Friends, those are not fun times, but note Simeon's attitude is totally opposite. He is ready to die, not because his life is so empty, but because it is so full. He is so full of joy, so content. He knows that anything else which will ever happen to him will not match the ultimate experience he's just had of holding the Messiah in his arms.
Our dreams and God's promises are two different things. Just because I want something badly doesn't mean that is in the plan of God. Simeon knows he can die anytime now because what he had been waiting for has arrived for him and his people, Israel.
I remember the heartfelt prayers of a man in our prayer meetings for his family, some of whom were unsaved. Every week he would ask God to bring them to Christ. It wasn't until this man died that I saw his children repent and come back to Christ. One son told me at the funeral, that it was at the death of their mother the family was split apart, but at the death of their father they have been reunited again, just like dad prayed.
Simeon knew the salvation of God had arrived. That plan to save us was worked out as a gift we receive by faith. We celebrate that event also each time we partake in the Lord’s supper. Communion does not save us, but causes us to remember God’s plan to suffer and die for our sins, to pay the price and atone for us. We believe and look to Him and are saved. We turn ourselves over to His Lordship and His sovereignty in our personal lives by faith, believing.
It was revealed to Simeon, this light into the darkness was also for the Gentiles to know God and for the glory of Israel, since the message had already been made clear to them of the God, of His love and power.
When I ministered in the nursing home, we talked about New Years and what might happen in the year to come. Some people would ask "I wonder if it is this year? Generally, what they meant was maybe this year some will die. Some were ready and some weren't. The most important thing in life is to be ready now, for you never know when you might be taken. It is comforting for people to know for sure where they stand before the Lord. It is important for you to know for sure. The Bible said as clearly as can be, “He who has the son has life and he who does not have the son of God does not have life." 1 John 5: 12,13. It is clear, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”
Simeon saw the hope of the world in Jesus and his personal peace in God's special favor with him. He could go in peace. He was ready to die.
What about you?
Dale
